Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage Guide – MK1 Move List and Best Combos

Looking for a detailed guide for Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 1? This arrogant film star has retained his charm over the years, reeling players in with his melee-focused combat. His reborn Mortal Kombat universe look is pretty great too, backed up by powerful combos and punishing moves. 

If you’re still undecided about whom to pick, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 roster tier list. And here’s how you can make the most of Mortal Kombat 1 Invasion mode.

Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage Guide

Our guide will get you up to speed on Hollywood’s most capable fighter. Johnny Cage has plenty of new mechanics this time. Knock out your enemies in style with these special moves and combos. Note that Kameo fighters can aid Johnny Cage in starting or extending combos. Here’s how to unlock all Kameo fighters in Mortal Kombat 1. He’s recruited by Liu Kang quite early into the campaign. And if you want to main the fire god, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 Liu Kang guide.

Before you check out all of Johnny Cage’s moves, here’s a handy chart that will let you understand this irrespective of which platform you’re on:

Notation	Attack	PlayStation	Xbox	Nintendo Switch
1	Front Punch	Square	X	Y
2	Back Punch	Triangle	Y	X
3	Front Kick	Cross	A	B
4	Back Kick	Circle	B	A

Johnny Cage Move List

The latest iteration of the MK franchise refines its foundation but doesn’t tinker too much with what previous games got right. Moves in Mortal Kombat 1 can be classified into the following:

• Basic Attacks
• Aerial Attacks
• Throws
• Special Moves
• Fatal Blow
• Fatalities
• Brutalities

Johnny Cage Basic Attacks

You’ll be using basic attacks to start, extend, and end combos so keep note of these moves. Here are all of Johnny Cage’s basic attacks in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Plot Fist: Front Punch
• Rough House: Front Punch, Front Punch
• Knuckle Under the Buckle: Front Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
• Kontracted Kick: Front Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick, 
• Breaking Backhand: Forward + Front Punch
• Elbow’s World: Forward + Front Punch, Backpunch
• Under the Table: Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch, Front Kick
• Back to the Footure: Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
• The Bee’s Knees: Down + Front Punch
• Talk to the Hand: Back Punch
• My Own Publifist: Back Punch, Front Punch
• Dunking on Haters: Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
• Legbanged RedemptShin: Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick
• Foot Loosey Goosey: Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick, Back Kick
• GutBusters: Away + Back Punch
• Charge GutBuster: Hold Back Punch
• Rising Star: Down + Back Punch
• Reading Shoe: Front Kick
• Pow: Front Kick, Front Kick
• Footless: Away + Front Kick
• Dizzy Knee: Forward + Front Kick
• Elbow Before Me: Forward + Front Kick, Back Punch
• On the Chin: Forward + Front Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch
• Style Points: Forward + Front Kick, Front Punch
• Ankle Of the Covenant: Down + Front Kick
• John Kick: Back Kick
• Cagenado: Back Kick, Back Kick
• Sweep the Leg: Away + Back Kick
• Flipper: Forward + Back Kick
• Donkey Kick: Down + Back Kick

Johnny Cage Aerial Attacks

With Mortal Kombat 1’s renewed focus on aerial combat, keep track of how you can punish enemies above the ground. Here are Johnny Cage’s aerial attacks in MK1:

• Sky Die: Up + Forward + Front Punch
• Private Jet: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch
• Air Blood: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
• Face X: Up + Forward + Back Punch
• Air Goring: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Kick
• Star Wrecked: The Final Footier: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Kick, Back Kick,
• Toe Tap: Up + Forward + Front Kick or Up + Forward + Back Kick

Johnny Cage Throws

Here are Johnny Cage’s throws in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Shove: Forward + Throw or Forward + Front Punch + Front Kick
• Hands Off: Throw + Block or Front Punch + Front Kick + Block
• Wombo Kombo: Throw or Front Punch + Front Kick

Johnny Cage Breakers and Taunts

These moves will infuriate your foes for entirely different reasons. A Kombo Breaker lets you escape combos and costs three charges of your Super Meter. Taunts let you aggravate your enemies, prompting them to fumble and give you an opening. Here are Johnny Cage’s Breakers and Taunts:

• Kombo Breaker: Forward + Block
• Taunts: Down, Down, Down, Down

Johnny Cage Special Moves

These moves can be tricky to pull off but Sub-Zero’s athletic kicks and combos make them worth it. Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage features both old and new powers. Here are Johnny Cage’s special moves in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Ball Buster: Away,  Down, Front Punch
• Enhanced Ball Buster: Away, Down, Front Punch + Block
• Ball Buster (Hype): Away, Down, Front Punch, Flip Stance
• Show Off: Down, Left, Front Punch
• Extend Show Off: Hold Front Punch
• Enhanced Show Off: Down, Away, Front Punch +Block
• Throwing Shade: Forward, Down, Away, Back Punch
• Enhanced Throwing Shade: Forward, Down, Away, Back Punch + Block
• Throwing Shade (Hype): Forward, Down, Away, Back Punch, Flip Stance
• Rising Star: Down, Away, Front Kick
• Enhanced Rising Star: Down, Away, Front Kick + Block
• Rising Star (Hype): Down, Away, Front Kick, Flip Stance
• Shadow Dash: Down, Forward, Front Kick
• Enhanced Shadow Dash: Down, Forward, Front Kick + Block
• Extend Shadow Dash: Flip Stance
• Shadow Kick: Away, Forward, Back Kick
• Shadow Kick (Hype): Away, Forward, Back Kick, Flip Stance
• Hype: Forward, Down, Away, Back Kick
• Wowing Out: Forward, Down, Away, Back Kick

Johnny Cage Fatal Blow

These button combinations are the same for all MK1 characters. You can only trigger them when you’re low on health. The old X-ray moves have been replaced by Fatal Blows. Here’s Johnny Cage’s Fatal Blows. He’s even got some special extra ones.

• That’s All Folks: Flip Stance + Block
• Or Is It?: Flip Stance + Block (Hold)

Johnny Cage Fatalities

Each MK1 character has two fatalities so far. Here’s how to unlock fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1. These finishers are the gory spectacles that celebrate this franchise’s penchant for violence. Here are Johnny Cage’s fatalities in MK1:

• Hollywood Walk of Pain: Forward, Away, Down, Back Punch
• Drive-by (Mid to Far) – Forward, Down, Back, Back Kick

Johnny Cage Brutalities

Here’s how to unlock and do a brutality in Mortal Kombat 1. Initially, players will only be able to do a single type of brutality. As you progress in the game, you will pick up new brutalities for characters. Here are Johnny Cage’s brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1:

• The Klassic: Down + Back Punch (uppercut)

Best combos for Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 1

Johnny Cage is still a rushdown character in MK1 but he’s got a few neat tricks this time. Here are the best combos for Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Flipper and Dunking on Haters are good normal attacks that can start off a combo by launching enemies into the air. You can also pair this with a Kameo attack to extend the combo.
• Hands Off is a unique throw escape that costs a bar on the Super Meter. This disables the enemy from throwing for some time.
• Keep note of his new Hype Meter. This can be filled with special moves and taunts. Use this to enter a Hype state that lets you cancel special moves into other moves. Johnny Cage’s Hype Meter can also unleash enhanced versions of special moves for even more damage.

That covers how to play as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 1. He’s kind of a big deal in the main campaign too. If you’re clearing the Invasion mode, here’s how to solve every Invasion Klue in Mortal Kombat 1. And players looking to bag more coins for gear should read our how to get Koins and Dragon Krystals fast in Mortal Kombat 1 guide. 

If you’re just getting into MK1, here are some Mortal Kombat 1 tips. And here are the best combos in Mortal Kombat 1 if you want to try some other characters out. The game is already out for players on PC, PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. NetherRealm Studios has another fighting hit on their hands.

Is Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 1?

Yes, Johnny Cage is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1.

Does Johnny Cage have powers in MK1?

Johnny Cage has a Hype Meter in MK1.